A powerful contingent of California foster youth and their supporters converged on the state Capitol this week to fiercely advocate for legislative change directly impacting their futures.
The event, hosted by the youth-led nonprofit California Youth Connection (CYC), trains foster youth ages 14-24 on the legislative process, ensuring they are not only present in policy conversations, but leading them.
“Policies impacting foster youth are often written by adults who have not experienced the system firsthand,” said CYC Executive Director Carolyn Reyes. “Day at the Capitol brings youth directly into meetings with lawmakers to share personal stories, identify gaps and propose solutions rooted in lived experience.”
Of key focus this year were Assembly Bill 2764, which focuses on expanding housing access and stability to foster youth, and AB 1886, which would stop endless probation for youth who are involved in both the child welfare (foster care) and juvenile justice systems. The bill would establish a 12-month limit on probation for those in out-of-home placements or transitioning from youth treatment facilities.
In 2021, the National Center for Youth Law and the W. Haywood Burns Institute’s “Ending Endless Probation” report found that probation is “more frequently imposed on youth of color, and for longer periods of time,” trapping many young people in the legal system and causing “far more harm than good.”
“Young people deserve support and opportunity, not endless punishment,” said Bay Area foster youth advocate Jessica Fuentes.
“We don’t often get the extra support necessary for young people who are impacted by the foster system,” said AB 1886’s author, Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, herself a foster mother. “Coming together to make sure your voices are heard, to make sure that you are here, that you are representing, that you are loud, that you are brave, that you are bold, is exactly what we need in this moment, so that legislators here in Sacramento hear your voices and see what you’re going through.”
Elhawary says foster youth were left out of the recent endless probation bill, AB 1376 when it was signed into law in 2025 and she’s happy to be working with CYC to correct the omission.
Jade, a student from South Central Los Angeles, spoke on the severity of the problem: probation periods for youth in both systems often lack clear timelines and are characterized by irregular check-ins, sometimes lasting past age 18.
“A probation period is supposed to rehabilitate them and not make an endless cycle for them,” Jade said, adding that the current system often leads to stress, depression, and a pipeline to adult crime.
Naomi Orosco of Alameda County spoke on AB 2764, which focuses on housing stability for foster youth participating in the Extended Foster Care program (AB 12). The program supports youth ages 18-21 with housing and financial aid, but advocates say inconsistent implementation has created widespread instability and contributes to high rates of homelessness.
Many system-impacted youth, Orosco added, aren’t looking forward to becoming adults.
“Turning 21 isn’t a celebration like it is for most, it’s a fear,” she said. “Our solution is AB 2764, which aims to align all extended foster care housing with AB 12 standards and ensure housing option access to all foster youth.”
The rally closed with strong messages of empowerment. Michael, from the Sacramento chapter of CYC, urged his peers to continue their fight.
“I encourage you guys to keep pushing yourself and challenging yourself. … I want all of you guys to take advantage of the opportunity that you’re given and go as far as you can.’”